DVCA: Epping wins through to Barclay Shield preliminary final

Epping coach Tim Bubis has opened up on how his side put a greater emphasis on “playing as more of a team” as it eyes a place in the Diamond Valley Cricket Association grand final.

A stronger focus on working as a collective this season has paid massive dividends for Epping.

The Pingers moved through to the Diamond Valley Cricket Association’s Barclay Shield semi-final after beating Diamond Creek by seven wickets on Saturday.

Epping was able to come away with a place in the competition’s final three without leading wicket taker Todd Hughes being required.

Meanwhile, John Kulikowski, who has taken 23 scalps for the season, did not trouble the opposition batters either.

Josh Henkel was the man of the moment after finishing with 5-19 from nine overs — his first five-wicket haul for the club.

Henkel had also bowled just four overs — all in the same game against North Eltham Wanderers — in the last five rounds of the regular season.

His efforts helped limit Diamond Creek to 9-113 from its 45 overs.

Epping reached its target of 114 inside 41 overs led by Nathan Gardiner’s 44 runs off 96 balls.

Pingers senior coach Jon Bubis said Henkel bowled “exceptionally well” throughout the afternoon.

“He bowled a tight line and length outside off stump and was rewarded with a couple of caught behinds,” he said.

“The wickets were also came after he bowled in tandem with the guy at the other end — it’s been one of the themes of our season.

“The boys have been playing as more of a team to get the job done.

“We’ve placed a strong emphasis on everyone playing their role and it has helped us get back to this position of challenging for a premiership.”

Bubis also heaped praise on first-year captain Tom Emmins who posted 20 runs in his side’s run chase.

“He’s been fantastic on and off the field,” Bubis said.

“We’ve stuck to our guns with how we’ve run training sessions and it has managed to hold us in good stead.”

Awaiting Epping in the preliminary final is Heidelberg who went down to Riverside in the qualifying final.

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